Scottish Pilgrim Routes Forum

23/06/2026

The SPRF Trustees are seeking nominations for this year's John Henderson Award, which recognises an outstanding and predominantly voluntary contribution to the establishment or development of a pilgrim route in Scotland.

The award comprises a commemorative trophy and a monetary prize of £200, presented at our AGM as part of our Pilgrimage Gathering held every autumn.

At our most recent meeting, the Trustees agreed to extend the nomination criteria to include groups and we would encourage Steering Groups to consider if there are any groups or individuals you'd like to nominate for this year's award.

You can nominate using the form below:
https://www.sprf.org.uk/john-henderson-2026

image credit: Mary Morrison

09/06/2026

🕊️ Happy Feast Day of St. Columba — 9th June 🕊️

Today we mark the feast day of Columba/ Colmcille, the 'dove of the church', who died on this day in 597 AD on the isle of Iona.

Columba has been a significant influence on pilgrims past and present. Starting across the wild south coast of Mull, St Columba's Way connects the Isle of Iona all the way to St Andrews through the heart of Scotland.

We've been really excited by developments by the Three Saints Way steering group to revive and develop this long distance St Columba's Way route and look forward to sharing these developments soon.

Can't wait to find out what they are? Join the SPRF forum as a member and we'll keep you even more up-to-date on developments on all Scotland's pilgrim routes there: https://www.sprf.org.uk/join-and-donate

23/04/2026

What a great day we had at our Spring gathering, thank you for hosting us so wonderfully, Comrie Croft.

We heard an inspiring keynote from Rev Prof Ian Bradley, reflecting on Columba.

It was fantastic to hear the passion and enthusiasm for the braided ‘Columba Way’ route mapping from Iona to St. Andrews (Three Saints Way)

To hear about an exhibition about Columba on the move around various locations.

To hear about happenings and exciting developments from the Fife Pilgrim Way Pastor

To get an update on the The Tin Tabernacle in Killin

To journey some of the virtual St Magnus Way - what a beautiful moment that was!

To hear more about the beautiful, regular pilgrimage walks happening at Dunkeld Cathedral

To hear about exciting developments on Lismore from The Cathedral Church of St. Molaug.

And about the ongoing pilgrimage journeys on Mull and Iona with Mull Another Way

And an encouragement for nominations for the John Henderson Award…

And more. Not least a delicious lunch, lots of sharing of ideas and a grand tour of the immense place that is Comrie Croft.

Want a slice of the SPRF support and enthusiasm - join today: https://www.sprf.org.uk/join-and-donate

15/04/2026

Have you watched The Road to Holy Isles?

Interested in going on pilgrimage in Scotland?

You'll find a full list of Scottish Pilgrim Routes on our website here: https://www.sprf.org.uk/pilgrim-routes-in-scotland

You can catch the Pilgrimage on BBC iPlayer, that includes a journey on the St Cuthberts Way here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002trqw/pilgrimage-the-road-to-holy-island-episode-1

Seven celebrities make a pilgrimage through the stunning landscapes of north east England to one of Britain’s most important pilgrimage sites, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.

11/04/2026

We're delighted that our spring gathering is to be hosted at the brilliant Comrie Croft on Thursday 23 April* 2026

We'll be building on the momentum of the exciting discussions held in Dunkeld, last spring, but don't worry you won't miss out if you weren't at that meeting, we'll make sure to bring everyone up to speed.

We'll be sharing about the exciting revisioning work that has been done on the ‘Columba Way’ coast-to-coast pilgrimage. And updates from across the country about the development of pilgrim routes and pilgrimage across Scotland.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Find out more and book your place here: https://www.sprf.org.uk/current-events-and-news Or contact [email protected]. And do make sure to let us know you are coming before the 20th April.

*Note this is a change of date from when the spring gathering was first announced.

11/04/2026

Have you caught up with the latest BBC pilgrimage series? The Road to Holy Isle.

What are your thoughts and reflections?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002trqw

p.s. photo is not from the programme, but from another group of pilgrims making the journey across the sands to Holy Isle back in October 2025. Credit: Mull Another Way

30/03/2026

'Pilgrimage is more than a wandering, it is a wondering' Sally Foster-Fulton

Did you catch the beautiful programme exploring themes and experiences of pilgrimage, from the Fife Pilgrim Way on BBC Radio 4 Sunday Morning?

You can listen again to Sally Foster-Fulton and Gilbert Márkus as they reflect together as they visit inspiring points on what was one of the most important pilgrim routes in medieval Europe, leading through Fife towards the relics of St Andrew.

You can explore the Fife Pilgrim Way and all the pilgrim routes across Scotland on our website, link in our bio.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002td3h

Sally Foster-Fulton, Gilbert Márkus and Mairéad Nic Craith on Palm Sunday and pilgrimage.